Swell Intel

Nags Head Pier Surf Forecast, North Carolina

North Carolina

Abalone St.1-2ftBath House1-2ftKill Devil Hills1-2ft
Nags Head Pier surf spot

Current Conditions

Poor
Wave Height
1-2ft
ankle to knee high
Swell Period
5.55s
Wind
15mph
SSW / Gusts 24mph
Conditions
Poor
Active Swells
Primary
1.1ft @ 9sE
Secondary
0.3ft @ 14sENE
Wind Swell
3.5ft @ 6sSSE

Nearest Webcam

Daily Forecast

3 of 5 days
Tue, Mar 311-2ft
Poor
6am9am12pm3pm
Wed, Apr 11-2ft
Poor

Pretty quiet out there — 1-2ft and mostly poor with 13mph from the SSW.

6am9am12pm3pm
9s E|12-15mph SSW
Thu, Apr 21-2ft
Poor

Not the most exciting day — 1-2ft and poor conditions with moderate SW wind around 7mph.

6am9am12pm3pm
7s ESE|7-9mph S
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Sat
3ft
Swell building Fri, Apr 3Fair

8s period — conditions are improving beyond your forecast

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Forecast Charts

Nags Head Pier Surf Spot Guide

Break
Beach
Bottom
Sand
Level
Beginner
Crowd
Moderate
Best Swell
NE
Best Wind
W
Season
Fall

Nags Head Pier is one of the OBX's most historically significant surf spots, with a lineage stretching back decades. The north side produces quicker, bowlier peaks for shortboarders while the south side delivers longer lefts favored by longboarders. NE swells provide the most consistent conditions, with December offering the highest percentage of clean rideable waves. The relaxed atmosphere is more welcoming than some of the more competitive OBX pier breaks.

Pier pilingsStrong currents near pierOccasional jellyfish

Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.

Nags Head Pier Surf Forecast FAQ

What is the current surf forecast for Nags Head Pier?
The current wave height at Nags Head Pier is 1-2ft with a 5.55s swell period. Wind is SSW at 15mph. Conditions are rated Poor.
How accurate is the Nags Head Pier surf forecast?
Our Nags Head Pier forecast uses NOAA GFS and other weather models combined with spot-specific bathymetry to calculate breaking wave heights. Short-range (1-3 day) forecasts are most reliable. Extended forecasts show general trends.
What is the breaking wave height at Nags Head Pier?
The current breaking wave height at Nags Head Pier is 1-2ft, produced by a 1.1ft E primary swell at 9s, a 0.3ft ENE secondary swell at 14s, a 3.5ft SSE wind swell swell at 6s. Breaking wave height is the actual rideable wave size at the shore — calculated from offshore swell data using this spot's coastal bathymetry — not the raw buoy reading.
When is the best time to surf Nags Head Pier?
Based on the current 5-day forecast, the best window to surf Nags Head Pier is Sunday from 9 AM to 12 PM with 3ft waves, a 6.2s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.